Fact Sheet – What is carbon trading?

Carbon Trading Fact Sheet

Don’t leave it to the market

Leave it in the ground!

Carbon trading is the main way in which wealthy industrialized countries and companies are avoiding their emissions reduction targets – by trading carbon credits amongst themselves, either between countries (as happens under the Kyoto Protocol) or between companies (as happens under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme). Essentially, it’s the way that industry can continue as usual, while encouraging the poor and disadvantaged to sell their rights to pollute.

This fact sheet is primarily for climate activists and independent journalists. We hope will also provide the basis for discussions, sloganeering & media work.